As historic and surprising as nominating an African-American in 2008 is, it (perhaps merely by coincidence) is also totally in line with law school rank-orthodoxy of the top Democratic candidates. A law school rank-snob, looking at credentials without names attached, would've chosen Obama from the start. From bottom to top:

Just because the Democratic candidate happened to graduate from the best law school is, just as you said, coincidence. If Barack graduated from any other school do you think it would make any difference? The only time education background really comes up in politics is notable accomplishments (like Barack being the first black law review president) or trying to prove a candidate is a blue blooded elitist because they went to a top school considered to be WASP havens. I really doubt anyone would have voted any differently if Barack went to a "TTT"

TimMitchell

2004 John Kerry (Boston College #28) wins against Bob Graham (LLB Harvard) Carol Braun (JD Chicago) and male private part Gephardt (JD Michigan) among many others. John Edwards also beat all these people with a JD from UNC (32)

2000 Al Gore's only opponent was really Bill Bradley who never even attended law school, although Gore only with to Vanderbilt...

I would say it is very unsuprising that an "African American" got the nomination.

Curiously, this conversation is devoid of grades. It might be a safe assumption that a person at the top of there class at Yale would be selected over a person in the bottom of there class at Harvard. Also curious, Obama won't release his grades. Remember, he was elected to the Editor of Law Review.

TimMitchell

Harvard wins in terms of lay prestige, which is probably more important in a presidential election. So the Y - H debate is moot.

The term "Harvard-trained lawyer" wins elections all over the world.

I think your right, most people associate Harvard with the best and don't know much about Yale law. However, the OPs arguement was that law rankings are playing out this primary. Yale has always been offically ranked over Harvard is U.S. news.